31 of the
406 complaints filed about the KIA Optima Hybrid
are about the transmission —
8% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2012.
31
Complaints
8%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
While driving during colder weather the car will show HEV (hybrid system) warning and tell you to shut it off. I was in a construction zone with no where to pull over when the car died and lost all propulsion and brakes. This seems to be a common problem on KIA Optima hybrids from 2012-2015.
NHTSA complaint #11710148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dear NHTSA, I am writing to formally report a serious safety incident involving my 2016 Kia Optima Hybrid, which caught fire and was completely destroyed on October 5, 2025. Incident Summary: While driving on a highway at approximately 65 mph, I noticed that the vehicle was not entering Hybrid Mode, which is abnormal for its typical operation. I reduced my speed to 45 mph, then down to 35 mph as I began to observe smoke coming from the vehicle. At no point did the vehicle show signs of overheating, and there was no Check Engine Light until shortly before I was able to safely pull over. Within moments of stopping the vehicle and exiting with my passenger, the vehicle was engulfed in flames and ultimately burned to the ground. Fortunately, both occupants escaped unharmed. The vehicle has been inspected by my insurance provider; however, I have been waiting over two weeks for Kia to inspect the vehicle or provide any official response regarding a possible cause. This delay is concerning, especially given the severity of the incident and the potential safety risk to other drivers. Vehicle Details: Make/Model: 2016 Kia Optima Hybrid VIN: [XXX] Mileage: 54,300 Date of Fire: October 5, 2025 Location: US-60 NONCARD & MP-118 Morristown, AZ I am reporting this incident in hopes that NHTSA will investigate whether this is an isolated case or potentially part of a larger safety defect within this vehicle model or hybrid system. The lack of adequate warning and the total loss due to fire raises serious safety concerns. Please let me know if any additional information or documentation is required to support an investigation. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11694645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On multiple occasions, the HEV system warning light and check engine light activated while I was driving at highway speeds. Immediately after the warning lights appeared, the vehicle suddenly decelerated, putting me and other drivers at risk. This issue has occurred several times and is clearly a serious safety hazard. Each time this occurred, I brought the vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership ([Dealership Name]) for inspection. However, despite the vehicle being under the Kia hybrid system and/or powertrain warranty (10 years/100,000 miles), I was recently informed that the necessary repairs would not be covered under warranty.
NHTSA complaint #11664354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but failed to accelerate as intended or change gear as intended. The vehicle was then taken to another dealer where it was diagnosed that the triaxle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #11611145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving down the road the car said it had a major voltage failure and was shutting down. I was in the middle of the street and thankfully was able to coast to the turn lane before the car came to a total stop. since the gas pedal didn't do anything. the car then said there was multiple failures and the hybrid system needed to be immediately shut down. The car then wouldn't start or move after that. about 20 mins later the car like dashboard and screen would turn on but the engine would not. when it turned back on there were even more warnings along with other failures like emergency braking and transmission and the hybrid communication. when the tow truck came and took it it would go into neutral to get on the truck but wouldn't even do that when we got it to the dealership it had to be manually taken out of park to get it off the truck. there were lots of warning lights but the oil, engine, and another light I not sure what it meant were always on even when the others would go away after a while.
NHTSA complaint #11508317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated that while her daughter was reversing the vehicle, the Hybrid Propulsion System message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 159,636.
NHTSA complaint #11489787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH ITS HYBRID BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SINCE PURCHASE. IT HAS BEEN TOWED 4 TIMES. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WILL START TO JERK AND A WARNING SYSTEM TELLING ME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (BMS) AND THE POWER TRAIN. IT WILL TELL ME TO PULL OVER OR TO CONTACT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THIS CAR HAS HAD ITS BATTERY REPLACED AND SOFTWARE UPGRADED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT I KEEP HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I'M CONCERNED THE BATTERY SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND IT'S DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT, AS NOTHING PRECEEDS THE ISSUES - THEY HAPPEN OUT OF NOWHERE.
NHTSA complaint #11348408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING (IN FORWARD MOTION), WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO EITHER THE BRAKE OR PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SLOW ITSELF RAPIDLY LOSING ACCELERATION.; A RUMBLE CAN BE HEARD THERE IS CONSISTENT BEEPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIBRATE SLIGHTLY. A YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT AND THE WORDS CHECK BRAKE APPEARS IN THE DRIVERS DISPLAY; ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE INCREASES THE RPMS BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SLOW RAPIDLY. NOT IDLE AS IF IT WERE NOT IN GEAR, BUT JUST AS IF THE DRIVER WAS BREAKING SUDDENLY. THE ONLY KNOWN METHOD OF CORRECTING THIS IS TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT. HOWEVER, THIS STOPS WORKING AS A SOLUTION AFTER A FEW DAYS AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. WHEN THE VEHICLE RESTARTS YOU CAN FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL RELEASE. THIS HAS OCCURRED RANDOMLY AT LEAST 20 TIMES IN THE PAST BEFORE UNTIL EVENTUALLY IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AT ALL. AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 25 MPH ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS TO 70 MPH ON BUSY FREEWAYS. I SINCERELY FEAR THAT IF NOT CORRECTED IT WILL LEAD TO A (POTENTIALLY FATAL) VEHICLE COLLISION. I ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NEAR-BY KIA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN CA. AFTER MONTHS THE CAR WAS RETURNED AND IT CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITHIN A DAYS. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE MALFUNCTION AS ALSO. I HAVE VIDEO OF THIS AS WELL. THIS NEEDS TO IMMEDIATELY BE CORRECTED AND THE TECHNICIANS NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND HOW TO FIX IT RATHER THAN EXPERIMENTING ON OWNERS VEHICLES FOR MONTHS OR WEEKS TO THEN RETURN IT WITHOUT RESOLUTION. WHY SHOULD I OR ANY OTHER KIA OWNER BEAR THE BURDEN OF THESE UNNECESSARY COSTS, INCONVENIENCE, AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITIONS. KIA NEEDS TO RESPOND I AM SURE OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE AND SHOULD COME FORWARD IMMEDIATELY FOR THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF ALL.
NHTSA complaint #11232147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND BEGAN SMOKING ... THE VEHICLE BECAME IMMOBILIZED I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OPENED THE HOOD. THERE WAS SO MUCH SMOKE. THE CAR TURNED ON AFTERWARDS BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT START. WITHIN SECONDS THE BATTERY SHUTDOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11210179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HYBRID WARNING LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON INDICATING THAT I SHOULD PULL OVER WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I IMMEDIATELY VEERED TO MY LEFT TO GET TO THE SHOULDER, AS THE CAR HAD ALREADY DIED, AND I WAS MOVING ONLY ON MOMENTUM. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A CAR BEHIND ME. I WAITED A WHILE, AND THE CAR RESTARTED. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT AWAY LATER THAT DAY. THIS WAS A SATURDAY, AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THE SAME SCENARIO AND ALSO ALMOST GOT HIT BY A CAR AS I WAS TRYING TO GET TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. MY CAR DID NOT START IN THAT INCIDENT, AND I HAD TO GET IT TOWED. THE SECOND TIME WAS AGAIN THE SAME SCENARIO, AND IT DID RESTART. EACH TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. EACH TIME THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND THEY MADE ANCILLARY UPDATES, WHICH DIDN'T HELP. THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS ADAMANT THAT THEY FIX IT BECAUSE THEY WERE AT RISK OF SERIOUS LIABILITY BECAUSE I WAS BEING PLACED IN EXTREME DANGER. FURTHER, IT BROUGHT ABOUT MUCH ANXIETY KNOWING THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING. MY CAR IS STILL WITHIN THE 100K WARRANTY. THE FIRST TIME, THEY REFUSED TO ADDRESS IT UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEY ARGUED WITH ME ABOUT IT ONLY TO CONCEDE LATER THAT, IN FACT, IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #11210065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD BETWEEN 20 - 25MPH THE HYBRID WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH OVERHEAD VOICE STATING TO PULL OVER AND NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER. IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING OVER THE CAR PROCEEDED TO LOSE ALL POWER. ELECTRICAL WITHIN CAR (LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC.) REMAINED ON BUT CAR WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY OFF. THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS IS STILL UNKNOWN, HOWEVER, WE WERE RUNNING ON HYBRID POWER AT THE TIME. THIS, WITH THE HYBRID MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HYBRID SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #11203438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE HYBRID SYSTEM BROKE DOWN AT 85K. WAS REPLACED BY KIA AFTER THREATENING LEGAL ACTION. AT 103K. WE NEVER MISSED MAINTENANCE OR A OIL CHANGE. THE ENGINE THROUGH A ROD ON A 5 LANE INTERSTATE DOING 65MPH, BLOWING AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. PUTTING MY FAMILY OF 5 AT SERIOUS RISK. KIA WANTS 4500K OR 8000K TO REPLACE THE FAULTY ENGINE. OPTIMA ENGINES WERE RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT REASON. THE OPTIMA HYBRID ENGINES WERE NOT RECALLED DESPITE SUFFERING THE SAME FAILURES AS NORMAL OPTIMA ENGINES. JOINING THE CLASS ACTION.
NHTSA complaint #11197287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I LITERALLY JUST HAD MY ENGINE REPLACED (BLEW IN AUGUST AT 85K MILES, DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR SIX MONTHS WHILE I WAITED ON AN ENGINE, COST $7K). I GOT MY CAR BACK IN MID-FEBRUARY. ON MARCH 25TH, I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, AND WHEN I ACCELERATED, THE CAR LAGGED AND LURCHED FORWARD. THIS CONTINUED ANY TIME I SHIFTED INTO D OR R, OR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR TWO WEEKS. MY PARTNER DROVE IT YESTERDAY (4/11/19), CHECKED FLUIDS, AND OBSERVED THE LURCH. AS HE WAS ARRIVING HOME, THE CAR LURCHED TO A STOP AND GAVE A "HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING! SAFELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE! WE DROPPED IT AT THE DEALERSHIP. I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR $9K, SUNK ANOTHER $7K INTO THE CAR, AND AM NOW EXPECTED TO PAY $5K MORE ON A TRANSMISSION THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES BEFORE. KIA HAS ALREADY STATED THAT REPAIRS AT THEIR DEALERSHIPS AREN'T BEING PERFORMED CORRECTLY. THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS. I HAD TO VDEAL WITH MASSIVE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP OVER THE SIX MONTHS I DIDN'T HAVE A CAR, AND NOW ITS GOING TO START ALL OVER AGAIN AND I WILL BE $20K IN THE HOLE ON THIS CAR. THIS IS NOT HOW GOOD, SAFE VEHICLES ARE BUILT.
NHTSA complaint #11195843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A HYBRID SAFETY WARNING LIGHTING UP. IT GOES ON AND THEN THE VEHICLE POWERS DOWN TO 25 MPH. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM WHEN DRIVING SPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER.
NHTSA complaint #11190506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING NORMALLY, HCU ERROR POPPED UP ON NAV DISPLAY AS WELL AS DRIVERS DISPLAY. TOLD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND TURN OFF ENGINE. I WAS TRAVELING ON ONCE HE INTERSTATE, BY THE TIME I GOT INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER. TURNED ON EMERGENCY HAZARD LIGHTS AND AFTER 5 MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND BROUGHT IT TO ROCK RIVER KIA IN ROCKDOED, IL. LATER WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED AND THE HYBRID BATTERY WAS NO LONGER HOLDING A CHARGE. ESTIMATED 14,000 REPAIR COST.
NHTSA complaint #11170476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING TO DROP OFF A FRIEND AND JUMPED ON THE HIGHWAY. EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL I STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND. I NEVER GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING STILL TO THIS DAY. I HAD IT TAKEN TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID 3 CONNECTING RODS ARE OUT AND IT HAS A CRACKED BLOCK. THEY QUOTED ME $7600 TO FIX IT. ITS BEEN 6 MONTHS AND I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITH WITH. MY INSURANCE SAID THEY CANT DO ANYTHING AND I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT I WENT OVER THE MILEAGE. I HAVE GAP INSURANCE BUT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I KNOW THE OTHER OPTIMAS ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES BUT KIA HASBT RELEASED A RECALL FOR THE HYBRIDS.
NHTSA complaint #11152905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FROM A STOP AT A LIGHT OR INTERSECTION, OVER SEVEN (7) TIMES THE CAR HAS JOLTED FORWARD AND STOPPED ABRUPTLY, LOSING MOST POWER TO THE MOTOR AT THAT POINT. AUDIBLE ALARMS RING AND THE DASHBOARD HAS READ BOTH "HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING! IMMEDIATELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE" AND "CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM". THIS HAS HAPPENED DURING LEFT TURNS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC THAT THEN HAS TO SLOW AS I SLOWLY CREEP OUT OF THE INTERSECTION.
NHTSA complaint #11075603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR STALLED ALL OF SUDDEN WITH SHUDDER ON ROUTE 7 IN VIRGINIA AND THEN IMMEDIATELY WAS YAKEN INTO PARKING LOT FOR SAFETY REASONS. IN TRYING TO PARK CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE CAR WAS ON FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES THEN RANDOMLY STOPPED. AFTER ANOTHER TEN MINUTES CAR WOULD NOT START AND THEN RANDOMLY STARTED. CAR WAS ASAP DRIVEN WITH ENGINE SHUDDER BACK TO HOME DRIVIEWAY AND PARKED FOR SAFETY. CAR NOW AGAIN WOULD NIT SHUT DOWN AND KEPT RUNNING. ON BITH TIMES WHILE CAR REFUSED TO SHUT DOWN THE GAUGE SHOWED CEHCK ENGINE EPS LIGHT AND INDICATED THAT CAR NEEDS TK BE PUT IN PARK MODE EVEN THOUGH CAR WAS JN PARK MODE. GEARBOX WOULD NOT SHIFT AND CAR DID NOT RECOGNIZE LOWER GEAR MODES AS IT KEPT SAYING CAR IS NOT IN P. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY SAID THEY WERE CLOSED DUE TO WEEKEND. WILL NOW NEED TO TOW THE CAR AS IT WILL NOT START SINCE PREVIOUS INABILITY TO SHUTOFF PROBABLY HAS KILLED BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #11061074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (1945 S FIGUEROA ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90007) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO KIA DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ADDITIONALLY, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO KIA DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT SOME WIRING INSIDE THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO POTENTIALLY REPLACE THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
NHTSA complaint #11052599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.